The Beekeeper of Aleppo (Stage Show): Review
AD: Press Tickets thanks to Malvern Theatres
On its release in 2019, the novel of The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri quickly became a bestseller. It was easy to understand why. This is a harrowing story with relatable characters whose lives are turned upside down by the war in Syria. As with any popular novel, there’s always a bit of jeopardy over whether the stage show will do it justice. I’m pleased to say that in this instance it absolutely does.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo (Stage Show): The Story
Staying true to the novel, the stage adaptation of The Beekeeper of Aleppo follows Nuri and Afra, a married couple whose lives are torn apart by the devastation of war in Syria. We learn about the peaceful life in they lived in Aleppo, he as a beekeeper and she as an artist. Nuri is good friends with his cousin Mustafa, from whom he learns the art of beekeeping.
The two families spend a lot of time together until they are forced to leave everything behind after unimaginable tragedy strikes. The play traces Nuri and Afra’s dangerous journey to the UK in search of safety. It deals with grief, guilt, trauma and the toll it takes on their physical and mental health. Moving between memory and the present, the Beekeeper of Aleppo is a powerful story of survival, loss and the struggle to find hope in the darkest of circumstances.
As the production unfolds, the play moves between the couple’s memories of their former life in Aleppo and the harsh reality of their journey as refugees. The audience gradually pieces together both what happened in Syria, and some of the more poignant elements of Nuri and Afra’s journey. They have many encounters with strangers, some offering compassion or requesting their assistance, others threatening their safety.
The Cast
- Anthony Almeida: Director
- Adam Sina: Nuri
- Farah Saffari: Afra
- Joseph Long: Mustafa / Moroccan Man
- Aram Mardourian: Nadim / Fotakis / Ali
- Alia Lahlou: Dr Faruk / Dahab / Immigration Officer
- Princess Khumalo: Angeliki / Lucy Fisher
- Dona Atallah: Mohammed / Sami
- Mohsen Ghaffari: Ensemble
- Helena Massoud: Ensemble
The Beekeeper of Aleppo (Stage Show): Review
This is a gripping show from start to finish. At the beginning of the play, I noticed that the lights in the theatre hadn’t gone down quite as much as they normally would. They dimmed slowly over the next few minutes, until the whole auditorium was plunged into blackness to depict Nuri and Afra hiding. Men with guns were searching for Nuri, a situation that finally persuaded Afra that they had to leave the city.
Dramatic scenes like this contrasted with the peaceful words of Mustafa, as he taught Nuri to be at one with nature looking after the bees. Whilst the set remains the same, projections on the walls and recollections of the characters transport the audience between worlds. From the peaceful countryside around Aleppo, to bombs dropping, violence and compassion on the journey, refugee camps, a dangerous crossing and scenes within the UK.
Throughout the production, the whole audience was gripped. Leaving the auditorium doesn’t mean leaving the story behind – it will stay with everyone who watches. Each one of us could put ourselves in Nuri and Afra’s position. It’s a poignant reminder that it doesn’t take much for a peaceful way of life to turn into a treacherous journey desperately seeking safety and refuge.
The Beekeeper of Aleppo (Stage Show): FAQs
The Beekeeper of Aleppo is at Malvern Theatres from Tuesday 14th to Saturday 18th April 2026.
Tickets can be booked through the Malvern Theatres website or from their box office.
Age guidance is 14 plus. This sounds about right to me because it does cover some difficult topics.
Around two hours and twenty minutes including an interval. This goes by really quickly because the production is so gripping!
After Malvern, the production moves on to Storyhouse Chester. Full details of the tour are available on the UK productions website.
